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What is Child Foster Care and Why is it Needed?

Foster care is a safe place for a child to be if the child cannot live with his/her family because of health or safety issues in the home. Children often enter foster care because of neglect, abuse, conditions of the home, or family crisis. While children are out of their home, foster parents help provide them with a safe, nurturing, and stable home.

Foster care is meant to be temporary; the goal is always reunification of the child with their family. While the child is out of the home, Social Services works to provide services to the parents so the child can return home.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible for a child to return home and is in need of a permanent home. Relatives and other persons important to the child are contacted to see if they are able to provide a permanent home for the child. While it is always preferred that a child finds a permanent home with relatives, sometimes that is not possible and licensed foster families are asked to provide permanent care or to adopt the child.

Child foster care homes are licensed by the Department of Human Services, and the agency is represented by the licensing worker from Stevens County Human Services. The licensing process can be expected to take anywhere from three to six months, depending on the situation. For additional information on the licensing process, click HERE.